Staff Sergeant Pay 2026
A Staff Sergeant is pay grade E-5 in the Air Force and E-6 in the Army and Marine Corps. Abbreviated SSG in the Army and SSgt in the Marine Corps and Air Force. Monthly basic pay in 2026 is E-5: $3,342.90 to $4,421.70; E-6: $3,401.10 to $5,267.70, depending on years of service. Annual pay is monthly × 12.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Page reviewed against DFAS pay tables and defense.gov rank titles October 26, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Which pay grade is a Staff Sergeant?
The title is in more than one pay grade, depending on the branch. Pay follows the grade, so check the branch row first. Grades come from the defense.gov rank insignia page.
| Branch | Pay grade | Branch pay chart | Other titles at this grade in the branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | E-5 | Air Force pay chart 2026 | None |
| Army | E-6 | Army pay chart 2026 | None |
| Marine Corps | E-6 | Marine Corps pay chart 2026 | None |
Staff Sergeant pay 2026 at E-5: monthly basic pay by years of service
E-5 is Staff Sergeant pay in the Air Force. Monthly basic pay is $3,342.90 to $4,421.70; annual is monthly × 12, $40,114.80 to $53,060.40 a year. An asterisk marks pay held at an Executive Schedule cap.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual (monthly × 12) | 1 drill | 4 drills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years or less | $3,342.90 | $40,114.80 | $111.43 | $445.72 |
| Over 2 to 3 years | $3,598.20 | $43,178.40 | $119.94 | $479.76 |
| Over 3 to 4 years | $3,775.80 | $45,309.60 | $125.86 | $503.44 |
| Over 4 to 6 years | $3,946.80 | $47,361.60 | $131.56 | $526.24 |
| Over 6 to 8 years | $4,110.00 | $49,320.00 | $137.00 | $548.00 |
| Over 8 to 10 years | $4,299.90 | $51,598.80 | $143.33 | $573.32 |
| Over 10 to 12 years | $4,395.30 | $52,743.60 | $146.51 | $586.04 |
| Over 12 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
Drill pay is 1/30 of monthly basic pay per drill period, four drills for a usual weekend. BAS for enlisted is $476.95 a month ($5,723.40 a year, monthly × 12) in 2026, paid on top of basic pay. See the full E-5 pay page and the BAS rates.
Staff Sergeant pay 2026 at E-6: monthly basic pay by years of service
E-6 is Staff Sergeant pay in the Army and Marine Corps. Monthly basic pay is $3,401.10 to $5,267.70; annual is monthly × 12, $40,813.20 to $63,212.40 a year. An asterisk marks pay held at an Executive Schedule cap.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual (monthly × 12) | 1 drill | 4 drills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years or less | $3,401.10 | $40,813.20 | $113.37 | $453.48 |
| Over 2 to 3 years | $3,743.10 | $44,917.20 | $124.77 | $499.08 |
| Over 3 to 4 years | $3,908.10 | $46,897.20 | $130.27 | $521.08 |
| Over 4 to 6 years | $4,068.90 | $48,826.80 | $135.63 | $542.52 |
| Over 6 to 8 years | $4,235.70 | $50,828.40 | $141.19 | $564.76 |
| Over 8 to 10 years | $4,612.80 | $55,353.60 | $153.76 | $615.04 |
| Over 10 to 12 years | $4,759.50 | $57,114.00 | $158.65 | $634.60 |
| Over 12 to 14 years | $5,043.30 | $60,519.60 | $168.11 | $672.44 |
| Over 14 to 16 years | $5,130.30 | $61,563.60 | $171.01 | $684.04 |
| Over 16 to 18 years | $5,193.60 | $62,323.20 | $173.12 | $692.48 |
| Over 18 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | $175.59 | $702.36 |
Drill pay is 1/30 of monthly basic pay per drill period, four drills for a usual weekend. BAS for enlisted is $476.95 a month ($5,723.40 a year, monthly × 12) in 2026, paid on top of basic pay. See the full E-6 pay page and the BAS rates.
Staff Sergeant pay in 2027: not final
Not final as of October 18, 2026. The President's tiered plan (7% for E-1 to E-5, 6% for E-6 to O-3, 5% for O-4 and above) would take effect January 1, 2027 unless Congress sets a different raise; the Senate Armed Services Committee's bill would set 3.6% for every grade. Neither is an official DFAS table.
| Pay grade | 2026 (official) | 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) | 2027 (3.6% raise) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $3,342.90 to $4,421.70 | $3,576.90 to $4,731.30 | $3,463.20 to $4,581.00 |
| E-6 | $3,401.10 to $5,267.70 | $3,605.10 to $5,583.90 | $3,523.50 to $5,457.30 |
Every grade and column is on the 2027 military pay chart.
Rank notes from the defense.gov insignia page
Leadership responsibility significantly increases in the midlevel enlisted ranks, recognized by the terms noncommissioned officer and petty officer. An Army sergeant, an Air Force staff sergeant and a Marine corporal are considered NCO ranks; the Navy equivalent, petty officer, is achieved at petty officer third class.
Same pay grade, other branches
One pay grade has one basic pay and a different title in each branch. Select a title for its own page.
| Pay grade | Army | Marine Corps | Navy | Air Force | Space Force | Coast Guard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 | Sergeant | Sergeant | Petty Officer Second Class | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Petty Officer Second Class |
| E-6 | Staff Sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Petty Officer First Class | Technical Sergeant | Technical Sergeant | Petty Officer First Class |
Promotion path from Staff Sergeant
The next lower and next higher pay grade in each branch, as the defense.gov rank list orders them, with the monthly basic pay difference at the length of service stated for that branch.
- Army: previous Sergeant (E-5), $122.10 a month less; next Sergeant First Class (E-7), $604.20 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Marine Corps: previous Sergeant (E-5), $122.10 a month less; next Gunnery Sergeant (E-7), $604.20 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Air Force: previous Senior Airman (E-4), $288.30 a month less; next Technical Sergeant (E-6), $122.10 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
All titles are on the military rank pay page; the full table is the military pay chart 2026.
Staff Sergeant pay questions
How much does an Army Staff Sergeant make in 2026?
An Army Staff Sergeant is pay grade E-6. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-6: $3,401.10 to $5,267.70 a month ($40,813.20 to $63,212.40 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a Marine Corps Staff Sergeant make in 2026?
A Marine Corps Staff Sergeant is pay grade E-6. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-6: $3,401.10 to $5,267.70 a month ($40,813.20 to $63,212.40 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does an Air Force Staff Sergeant make in 2026?
An Air Force Staff Sergeant is pay grade E-5. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-5: $3,342.90 to $4,421.70 a month ($40,114.80 to $53,060.40 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does an SSG or SSgt make in 2026?
SSG is the Army abbreviation and SSgt is the Marine Corps and Air Force abbreviation for Staff Sergeant, as the defense.gov rank insignia page prints them. A Staff Sergeant is pay grade E-5 in the Air Force and E-6 in the Army and Marine Corps, paid $3,342.90 to $4,421.70 a month at E-5 or $3,401.10 to $5,267.70 a month at E-6, depending on years of service.
Is a Staff Sergeant an E-5 or E-6?
It depends on the branch. A Staff Sergeant is pay grade E-5 in the Air Force and E-6 in the Army and Marine Corps. Pay follows the grade, not the title, so the same title is paid $3,342.90 to $4,421.70 at E-5 or $3,401.10 to $5,267.70 at E-6 a month in 2026.
What is the next rank after a Staff Sergeant?
In the Army, Sergeant First Class (E-7), paid $604.20 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Marine Corps, Gunnery Sergeant (E-7), paid $604.20 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Air Force, Technical Sergeant (E-6), paid $122.10 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service.
How much is Staff Sergeant drill pay for a weekend?
A drill period is 1/30 of monthly basic pay, so a four-drill weekend for Staff Sergeant is $445.72 to $589.56 at E-5 or $453.48 to $702.36 at E-6, depending on years of service.
What will Staff Sergeant pay be in 2027?
Not final, and neither scenario is an official DFAS table. E-5: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $3,576.90 to $4,731.30; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $3,463.20 to $4,581.00. E-6: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $3,605.10 to $5,583.90; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $3,523.50 to $5,457.30.